Ogun State varsity graduate, Abiola Oluga, 28, tells ABDULLATEEF FOWEWE how policemen arrested him and accused him of recording their activities, and later declared him a cultist while having a phone conversation with his friendCan you provide some information about what led to your detention?
I’m Abiola Oluga; I’m 28 years old. I was born in Abeokuta, Ogun State. I recently graduated from the Department of Mathematics of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and I work as a full-stack web developer. However, the detention occurred just eight days after my graduation, as I returned home to assist my father, who is a widower and retired civil servant. On Sunday, February 4, 2024, while chatting with a friend on WhatsApp outside my father’s house after returning from church, I was unexpectedly arrested and physically assaulted by some policemen, who falsely claimed that I was recording them on video. My father attempted to speak with the Divisional Police Officer of the Ibara Police Division, Lateef Balogun, and his team to seek clarification, but they were extremely rude and unhelpful.
The police officer didn’t show any respect to the elders of the community and even threatened my father with a gun. I was deeply saddened by the disrespect shown in public, not only to me but also to my father. Other innocent individuals who were arrested were taken to the Lafenwa Police Station and detained for three hours before being paraded throughout Abeokuta by the anti-cultism unit. This exposed us to public humiliation before reaching the Ibara Police Station, the nearest one to our area; their vehicle returned at exactly 5.30 pm, accompanied by the Area Commander of Zone 2, Abeokuta.
Despite our efforts, my family was unable to bail me out on Sunday and had hoped to do so on Monday. However, the DPO did not grant me bail; it was claimed that only three persons would be granted bail and that only the state commissioner of police had the authority to grant me bail despite not having committed any offence. The DPO informed my brother that he heard that I was a graduate of Mathematics and that I was intelligent, but not brilliant, and promised to use me as an example. One of the officers involved in my case informed my brother that those arrested were not members of any cult and suggested that my relatives contact the state command since the DPO was unable to grant me bail.
This led to a harsh second night in detention at the police station. I was horrified to be listed as a suspected cultist in news reports in connection with the Abeokuta killings on Tuesday morning. The report was attributed to the Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola. Consequently, I was transferred from Ibara to the state headquarters at Eleweran on Tuesday; when I got there, I was transferred to the anti-cultism section and spent another unjust night in detention at the Eleweran Police Station. My family came to the police station on Wednesday with a lawyer to bail me out.
Were you permitted to see your lawyer?
No, despite the lawyer and my family’s gentle and polite approach, the assigned investigating police officer refused to let our lawyer see or speak to me. It seemed they were trying to cover themselves as they realised I was not guilty and was suffering unlawful detention. They did not allow my lawyer to see me until I was bailed out, most likely because they knew they had detained me illegally. They later searched my phone and found nothing incriminating in it.
Did you pay before you were released?
Yes, I was released after paying N30,000, which was the lowest amount paid by anyone arrested that day. However, they did not provide a receipt for the payment.
How did you feel while in detention?
It was a very traumatic experience that I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy. I was deeply depressed and emotionally scarred
How would you characterise your behaviour in the community?
I am relaxed in manner and character; I’m not usually worried about other people’s behaviour or things that need to be done in person, and I don’t have any friends in the community because my childhood friends have all moved away from that area.
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